Freedom Festival?? ‘Freedom’ my ass!

O God, i travelled to a conservative,  alcohol-free party! I hope i can forgive myself. Definitely a first, and the last. But I’ll never forget Freedom Festival.

Although it was a good production technically, the authorities messed things up.

Thank you for making me travel without leaving Malaysia. I thought I was in fuckin Afghanistan – no alcohol, no ‘sexy’ looks.

I also thought I was lost at party for primary school kids – strictly 12-year-olds and below, coz although we adults are allowed to drink, 12-year-olds aren’t allowed to drink.

Last time I checked, I was in fuckin Malaysia and I was a fuckin adult, able to make my own decisions and choices.

It was a new government effort to try and create a ‘new trend’ in partying – no alcohol, no sexy tops, security gorillas all over d place. Next, they’ll try to enforce these rules at club events if no one says anything. I mean, what’s the difference? This event was exactly like a club event, just a different venue.

Why? Are drugs (but not alcohol) acceptable to religion? Instead of legal drinks, everybody can get high on illegal drugs. And dress like Arab women.

Anyway, on Saturday, d second night of the party at Malacca’s A Famosa Resort, we go in about 10pm after a cool pre-party at our villa, where we were drinking ‘illegally’.

My friend Joleen comes out to meet me and pass me my invite & tag. I put it on and we head to “Re-entry”. A fuckin moron taking care of re-entry stops us. He didn’t gimme his name, so let’s call him Mr Freedom. Here’s how it went down:

.

Mr Freedom: “Sorry u can’t go in!” (to Joleen).

I: “Huh? What??

Mr Freedom: “She can’t dress like this. Her back is showing”

I: “Watdehell are u talkin about?”

– I’m more confused than anything else –

Mr Freedom: “Showing too much. I saw her go in just now, but now I cant let her in”

I: “”Are u kiddin me?? Why?”

Mr Freedom: “Can see her back. Sorry she can’t dress like that”

– I’m pissed –

I: “What!!?? She’s an adult! She can dress how dehell she wants!

Mr Freedom” “I cant let her in”

I: “We’re with the media, here to write about the fest. U want us to write about this?”

Mr Freedom: “I dont care about that. Cover it up! Got Muslim religious department inside” (Mr Freedom is not even a Muslim)

I: “I dont give a shit about them! We’re not even Muslims!”

Mr Freedom: “Doesnt matter!”

I:” Watdefuck are u talkin about!!?? Where dehell does it say anything about not showing your back in the rules or the ticket?!! Show me now! We paid money for this! What’s your name??

Mr Freedom: “NO! That’s the law! Cover it up. Go buy a t-shirt” (a Freedom Fest t-shirt, which was crap)

– Now I’m really pissed, and start yelling, and get others watching d fun –

I: “Dats bullshit! Dat’s not da fuckin law! She’s a Christian. U got sumtin against fuckin Christians?!! Huh?!! Watdefuck do u have against Christians?!

Freedom: “No thats the law / our rules! (or watever) U dont cover u not going in!”

I: “No, we’re not gonna do that! Let me speak to who’s in charge! Ur wasting my fuckin time!”

Freedom: “I’m in charge!”

I: “Really? FUCK YOU, we’re goin in!”

.

I tell Joleen “Go in now. Fuck dis asshole.”

I barge through. I can hear the puta shouting “Dont let him in!”

I’m not sure what happened, but we get in. Maybe he backed-down as i was so pissed.

I don’t think Joleen said a word. Haha.

Who made him God?

(Joleen wore a top that covered her entire front, with the back exposed, except for the strings to tie the top with. Most of her back was covered by her long hair.)

Should she have worn a black Arabian hijab?

I looked everywhere for Mr Freedom aka Taliban on my way out at 130am, but no luck. Party ended before 2am on both nights, leaving many disappointed guests. Officially, the authorities only allowed it until 1am. It used to be 3am.

I dont givafuck if d fuckin Pope and the mufti of Saudi Arabia were in there. The idea of an event like this is to relax and enjoy yourself, not get told off by God-wannabes. If u gonna do an event like this, it has to be done well or not at all.

If u wanna party, never dress like Joleen (left). Wear a t-shirt

Girls, if u wanna party, never dress like Joleen (left). Wear a t-shirt. Cover your back. Shoulders too while ur at it

A bunch of 12 of my friends remained in their bungalows the next nite and refused to enter d event. They’d rather party by themselves, stress-free, with a drink in hand.

How ridiculous is dat? A party for adults with no booze. Obviously they did not allow anyone to bring their own either. In fact the put a banner at the entrance to the resort (not to d event) – “No outside food & drink allowed.” Thankfully (for them) they didnt enforce it, or there would have been a riot. What were they plannin to do, search all d cars and people that were checking-in to d resort??

If there was no alcohol, the least the organizers could have done was to issue an early warning: “Alcohol-free event.” A lot of us would have saved our time and money and gone for Steve Aoki’s gig instead. Or had a beer at some pub.

I didnt travel hundreds of kilometres and spend hundreds of dollars to get crapped on. At best, they won’t bother to organize an event like this again. And the authorities need to offer an apology to all guests and all Malaysians.

We were inadvertently sold out to the authorities. And our Constitution shat on. Since d cops are crapping on our Constitution, all the other agencies wanna join in.

What happened to freedom of religion? And civil liberty?

I ask Joleen on d way home to KL “U know, we just wanna relax and have some recreation. Why do some people go outta their way to spoil d good time that others are having?”

She says “Maybe they’re can’t stand others enjoying themselves. Maybe they lead sad lives.” Yea I agree.

Reminds me of Euphoria / MOS. And clubbing in Australia.

OK, we see the DJ. So where's d bar?

OK, we see the DJ. So where’s d bar?

I been told dat all organizers now are bound by the ridiculous terms and conditions that d Federal government laid down. But I definitely did not, and will never agree to these conditions.

So Freedom Festival, though a production-wise and musically a success, did not live up to its name.

So, its best to remove the word “Freedom” from next year’s event. Unless it will reflect what it means.

If such a thing ever happens to u or a friend, make sure you FUCK THEM UP. Dont accept their illogical excuses. There is NO LAW against sexy clothing for non-Muslims.

Yea dats right. U better respect dat flag and the freedom it represents, or gedda fuck outta this country

Yea dats right. U better respect dat flag and the freedom it represents, or gedda fuck outta this country

.

Note: Since the government is making up these new rules recently, the choice is either to accept it, or not. If u think Malaysia should remain a secular nation for multi-religions, and not become like Afghanistan, u can write to your paper. I was told that it’s the work of the Information, Communications, and Culture Minister, Rais Yatim who is on a crusade to ‘reform’ all of us into robotic morons.

And he’s only getting started. Next time u attend a gig or international concert, u can expect d same bullshit. Or worse.

Rais is d guy who last year said: “Local women intending to travel abroad alone may need family consent to leave, in a bid to prevent them from being used as “drug mules” by international syndicates.” Haha!  Right. So u see wat kind of person is in charge?

Next time there’s such an event, call d organizers and ask if there’s alcohol. Then give your opinion, whether for or against, dats your call.

Anyway, groups & NGOs in Selangor as well as the stupid, ultra-conservative & ancient-brained ‘Consumers’ Association of Penang are calling for a ban on beer from 7-11, convenience stores and coffeeshops. BEER. I would assume shandy too, as it’s equally ‘evil’.

The conservatives won this round. The liberals and radicals need to make sum noize too, including our Muslim brothers who are dissatisfied with these government agencies. If you dont, it implies u agree with what’s goin on, and make these dumb conservatives and Taliban-wannabes even bolder. There’s no point bitching in d future when its too late. And women can only go partyin or clubbing dressed in t-shirts! And wear sarongs and not bikinis to d beach. Dat would suck, coz I sure dig bikinis.

And in d future, I dont want our kids inheriting a fucked-up, intolerant, fanatical country coz we did nuthin to prevent it.

.

Write to:

The Star: editor@thestar.com.mymetro@thestar.com.my

or The Sun: fred@thesundaily.com & citizen-nades@thesundaily.com

or NST: news@nstp.com.my & mailed@nstp.com.my

or all three separately. Hopefully they’ll publish it.


Include name, IC n address

Attn: Letters to Editor

I have already done so.

U can state that we adults don’t need the Information, Communications, and Culture Ministry or religious authorities or the government telling us how to dress or what to eat or drink.

Share

One or two drinks…

was d plan. We were doin some absinthe cocktail sampling at Wabisabi. So we sampled. And according to eyewitness reports, were eventually staggering outta there. Haha

We bar flies

We bar flies

There was absinthe + Blue Curacao (Smurf), absinthe cranberry (Ms Hyde), and absinthe + mint liqueur (Dr Jekyll). D cranberry one turned out d best. As it was a sampling, portions were small.

Dr Jekyll's medicine

Dr Jekyll's medicine

Select your potion

Select your potion

So me n Henry decided to ‘top-up’ (konon). We each had three pints of black shit, and The Hulk – absinthe mixed with Guinness (downed that), and three shots of Jose Cuervo, and ended with three shots in a row of absinthe, neat.

Vincent of TWE, d absinthe distributor, showed up at our spot. And probably regretted it. We made him light up his absinthe instead of adding water. Poor guy was shocked, but he downed them neat anyway.

We told him to screw d “French style”, “Swiss style” or watever white-man style that he was showing us and do it KL style. He seemed to like it. Not sure whether he still liked it in d morning.

The Hulk. There's a shooter glass of absinthe in there somewhere

The Hulk. There's a shooter glass of absinthe swimmin in there somewhere

Henry does not remember d lok-lok we had. Does not remember puking at Mad Max’s car. And didn’t know whose traces of puke was in his sink. Well, now u know man.

Share

Revenge is sweet. And dark

I’ve been to countless parties where the booze is on da house. Everything under the sun has been served to me – liquors, liquers, champagnes, classy wines, tuak. Except Guinness draught. For some freaky, messed-up reason, I’ve never had the honour to down Guinness draughts all nite on d house.What’s worse, it’s one of my fave drinks.

Last night, that injustice was finally rectified. Thanks to the opening of Sid’s second outlet (Sid’s II), I drank Guinness until I thought my piss was gonna be black. I had my revenge.

Comrade Che watched in disbelief as Deep had his revenge. Salud, ese.

Commander Che watched in disbelief as Deep executed his revenge. Salud, ese.

Our crew got there early – 5.30pm. It was a hot, clear, blazing day. Perfect.

Service was awesome. We never had to move or worry about drinks.

The first one arrived – it looked too gorjes to drink.

p10103871

Words not necessary

I lost count after 7 glasses, but we were downing Guinness for about 5 hours straight. More friends and business associates showed up, and some got pretty senget. Like:

p10104751

Ben gettin cozy with d grass (pix by Khang)

Sid’s Pub is an English one which started in TTDI, and now is in The Village, Bangsar South (and Ampang next). Basically in Kerinchi on the way to Pantai Hill Park, next to the Old Town Coffee. Food is pretty good, especially d pork stuff. Might post a food review soon.

p1010460

Sid's - English

p1010451

Niga, Henry (whose nuts are probably being squeezed) & Joleen

p1010419

Joleen's failed attempt to finally have an unsleazy picture with me

p1010454

Them gerls, Jacq, Iza, Joleen

p1010425

Mad Max (birthday boy) and the Laos boyz Raul, Henry, me

Sid's awesome fish 'n chips (Atlantic cod), and some green shit, and...

Sid's awesome fish 'n chips (Atlantic cod), and some green shit, and...

The blue cheese shrooms are highly recommended. So are d crazy bbq pork ribs (sorry no picture - usually ribs gone b4 camera aims)

The blue cheese mushrooms are highly recommended. So are d crazy bbq pork ribs (sorry no picture - usually ribs gone b4 camera aims)

Someone stole my Che tobacco box. Dam u capitalists.

A great night. 14 barrels says so.

p1010459

Life & love actually

Brain damage rating: 7.5/10

Share

Absinthe lands in KL!

Swim with me baby!

Swim with me baby!

Move over toyol! The green fairy’s in da hood.

Those of u who’ve been like, smuggling the stuff from abroad, don’t need to feel like criminals anymore. A couple of good absinthes – from the actual village where the fuel was created – were launched at Werner’s recently.

Meet Swiss chicks Angelique and La Clandestine. The former is 68% alcohol by volume (ABV) while the latter is 53% ABV.

Come to La La Land

Come to La La Land

There were quite a few excited guests there that evening. Me, my bro and Lili were eager-nigaz at 7pm sharp. Went straight upstairs, and absinthe cocktails were being served. Efficient.

This was actually the first of a series of cocktails for d nite. How nice.

Local superstar bartender Ben Ng (who will be interviewed in this blog soon) fixed us our first round, it was called Jaded. Yummy stuff, a little like a real good and slightly fruity-herbal-ish Long Island, but not as strong.

Ben fixes me up

Hook me up Ben

So, why u so Jaded, hmm? Was it all the alcohol?

So, why u so Jaded, hmm? Was it all the alcohol?

This cocktail shit was new to me. I’ve had absinthe on many occasions – rock n roll style. Pour a shot into a glass over a cube of sugar that’s on a spoon, light up the cube, let it burn, stir it in (the whole dam glass is on fire by now, tabletop too), blow it out, “Salud!”, down it! Slam the glass down.

And go brrrehhhaaaaaaarghhhhh…!!

Then hwwwbbehhbbbehhbbbbehhhh!!

Or leggo some profanities.

Hey it works. This is a lil similar to the “French style”, but we do it Malaysian Style, coz there’s fire. Coz we like fire.

The second round of cocktails were called… hmmm…….. don’t remember.

Gosh, instant brain damage.

It was green. A nice green.

It's not radioactive champagne

Unfortunately it ain't radioactive champagne

There were three cocktails in total. Then i got involved in an exhibition lesson with Ben on how to make it, French style: Pour a shot, place a sugar cube on an absinthe spoon, pour cold water through the sugar, stir and drink.

Huh? Where’s the fireworks??

“Don’t i light it up?” I asked, looking disappointed.

“U can if u want, but it’s not necessary,” Ben says to me & the crowd.

Dam. I downed it anyway. It’s pretty good with cold water.

Will post more recipes soon.

Bartender Keith sparks one up for me

Bartender Keith sparks one up for me

.

Absinthe was banned in most countries until recently. Typical government paranoia. It was never banned here I think, maybe coz d dam Customs officers probably never even knew watdefuck it was. “Ah?? Nenek punya ubat batuk?? Ok la, jalan.”

It’s extremely herbal (like Hacks & Sambuca) and contains wormwood. Thujone is a chemical in the wormwood plant that is a hallucinogenic.

.

If u think absinthe is gonna make u hallucinate, stop thinking. There isn’t enough thujone in the drink to cause that. (Awwww……… disappointed? Well, u could always try shrooms.)

.

So absinthe is not some God-sent alco-drug combo meal. It’s alcohol. With plant extracts. Good for tummy aches.

.

What do I like about it? The fact that I feel sumtin in my head after ONE shot. Try six. I’ve had 80% ABV absinthe and that shit’s lethal.

.

As well as the fiery ritual that goes with it. There’re very few ritualistic drinks around actually. (If u wanna do sum caveman chant while drinking it, oso can.)

.

Where's that dam fire extinguisher?

Where'd I keep that goddam fire extinguisher?

Wanna know more about absinthe and these two brands? There’s a fascinating story: *click!*. This sure is the original thing from the birthplace of absinthe in Switzerland. Some hillbilly kampung.

.

And, here’s where u can get it at in Malaysia:

Quattro @ Avenue K

Gypsy @ Changkat BB

Werner’s @ Changkat

My place. Haha

El Cerdo @ Changkat

21 @ Changkat

Blanc le Club @ Heritage Row

Red Square @ Cap Square

Metropol

Shalome, Wabisabi, Tao, Bamboo 9, HQ9 @ TTDI

The Social @ Bangsar

Hush

Shuraku @ Solaris

La Bodega @ BSC

Bubba Gump (watdefuck!) @ The Curve & Pyramid

Cafe Chulo@ Jaya 1

Two Monkeys @ Jaya 1

.

It’s imported by TWE (Tong Woh). Will check and revert if u can buy it at any liquor store, especially if u’d rather take it home and start an arson party. Trust me it’s fun. Best done just before u go out to party.

.

U heard it here first. Salud!

She's had too much absinthe

Green Fairy had too much absinthe

Brain damage rating: 8/10 (takin into account previous experiences with absinthe!)
Related Posts with Thumbnails
Share